TSMC to build world’s first 3nm fab in Taiwan

UPDATED – TSMC has announced plans to build the world’s first 3nm fab at the Tainan Science Park in Taiwan.

TSMC chairman Morris Chang told Bloomberg that the project could cost upwards to $20bn.

No timeframe has been set out for the investment, which is being made at a site that already produces 5nm chips.

There had been speculation that the company might locate it outside Taiwan – perhaps in the USA but the announcement in late September, made just after the last issue of Electronics Weekly went to press, has put an end to that possibility.

In its statement, TSMC says it “recognises and is grateful for the [Taiwanese] government’s clear commitments to resolve any issues, including land, water, electricity and environmental protection”.

TSMC had indicated earlier that it was unhappy about the island’s electricity infrastructure.

TSMC has always said it prefers to build its fabs in a cluster to share technology and says that the decision to invest in Tainan is “to fully leverage the company’s existing cluster advantage and the benefit of a comprehensive supply chain”.